PM calls for ‘change’, not ‘revenge’ after BJP’s Bengal victory : Development-Focused Politics After Bengal Result

PTI, May 5, 2026, Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged political parties in West Bengal to move beyond violence and focus on development, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a historic win in the Assembly elections, announcing that the Centre’s health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides a cashless cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, would be implemented in the state at the first Cabinet meeting.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters following victories in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, Modi, clad in a kurta and dhoti, said the mandate marked the end of a politics driven by fear.

Stressing reconciliation, he said the moment called for “change, not revenge,” appealing for an end to the cycle of political violence that has long marred Bengal’s electoral landscape.

The Prime Minister described the Bengal polls as “special”, noting that, unlike previous elections, the process was largely peaceful and free of reported fatalities.

He said this reflected growing faith in democratic institutions and a shift in political culture.

Modi also linked the electoral outcome to what he described as public anger against parties opposing the women’s reservation law, asserting that voters — particularly women — had “punished” rivals, including the Indian National Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

He added that a similar sentiment could impact future contests, including in Uttar Pradesh.

Highlighting high female turnout, Modi said women were emerging as a decisive force in Indian democracy.

He criticised opposition parties for blocking amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan legislation, calling it a setback to women’s empowerment and inclusive governance.

Expanding the scope beyond Bengal, Modi said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had retained power in Assam for a third consecutive term and secured a mandate in Puducherry on a development-focused agenda.

He framed the results as a broader endorsement of governance and stability.

Invoking a symbolic geographical arc, Modi said BJP governments now govern states along the Ganga belt — from Uttarakhand to West Bengal — signalling the party’s expanding footprint.

Calling the outcome a “new chapter,” Modi credited party workers for the victory and said the results honoured the legacy of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

He reiterated that electoral wins and losses were part of democracy but emphasised that the people had reaffirmed faith in performance-driven politics, strengthening democratic participation and public trust across regions.